Movie Reviews

So this past week I've been on vacation, and since the local theater has $4 matinees for first-run movies, I decided to go see two.

As a Heffernan, I'm addicted to the Alien legacy of movies. Unfortunately, nothing comes close to Alien and Aliens. Alas, the most recent incarnation of the old favorite is no different. While it combines the Predator and Alien lines, I felt that it did not live up to even the first AvP installment. The movie was slow at the start, and frenzied at the finish. I will say that when characters died, as so many did, the writers got quite creative with how those characters were to expire. As long as you go into this movie with a proper attitude - i.e. wanting a healthy portion of wanton death and destruction, with a side of stupidity, you'll enjoy it. Expecting anything more would be uncivilized. I'd say this one is maybe as good as "Bloodsport". Don't go see it unless you really like the Alien franchise.

The next movie I saw is also a sequel, but a sequel of a very good movie - National Treasure. Book of Secrets followed the same general plot and theme of the first National Treasure movie - a big treasure that has to be found following specific clues left by Masons while not getting killed by the bad guys who want the treasure for themselves. Book of Secrets has a simple plot that is very well done, combining history, action, and locations with conspiracy theories. It was a very entertaining movie and kept me involved but it's not nearly as intellectual as the first National Treasure. While Nick Cage is the star of Book of Secrets, the actor playing his sidekick Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), steals the screen. Make sure you don't miss any of his lines, because he has some of the best 1-liners since Chevy Chase in Caddyshack. All in all, I enjoyed this movie and rate it as better than "The Mummy 2", but not quite "Die Hard 2".